The Orpington is a British breed of chicken. It was bred in the late nineteenth century by William Cook of Orpington, at that time in Kent in south-east England.^[5]: 115 It was intended to be a dual-purpose breed, to be reared both for eggs and for meat, but soon became exclusively a show bird.^[6][7]

The original Black Orpington was bred by William Cook in 1886 in Orpington, which at that time was in Kent in south-east England.^[5]: 115 He crossed Minorcas, Langshans and Plymouth Rocks to create a new hybrid bird. He selected a black bird that would exhibit well by hiding the dirt and soot of London.^[8]: 158 When the breed was shown in Madison Square Gardens in 1895, its popularity soared.^[5]: 115 Cook also bred the Orpington Duck.^[9]: 74

Seven colour varieties are recognised by the Poultry Club of Great Britain: black, blue, buff, cuckoo, jubilee, spangled and white.^[10]: 248 The Entente Européenne recognises thirteen colours, and lists two more.^[11] In the United States four colours – black, blue, buff and white – were added to the Standard of Perfection of the American Poultry Association in 1960.^[3]

A bantam Orpington was bred by Herman Kuhn in Germany in the early twentieth century.^[8]: 254 Only the colours black, blue, buff and white are recognised by the Poultry Club of Great Britain,^[10]: 249 but several others have been bred;^[8]: 254 the Entente Européenne lists sixteen, of which eleven are recognised.^[11] The bantam rarely takes flight.^[8]: 254

In the UK, the club dedicated to the breed is the Orpington Club, which merged with the Orpington Bantam Club in 1975.^{[citation needed]} The United Orpington Club is the American breeder's club, and the Orpington Club of Australia is the Australian club for the breed.

The sex-linked recessive chocolate plumage color of chickens was first seen in Orpington bantams, and has since been introduced to other breeds.^[12]

There are two similar but different standards for Orpingtons. The first is published by the Poultry Club of Great Britain and asks for a weight from 3.60 to 4.55 kg for cocks and 2.70 to 3.60 kg for hens.^[1] They also ask for a heavy, broad body with a low stance, with fluffed-out feathers which make it look large; the down from the body covers most of the legs. Other characteristics of their Orpingtons are a curvy shape with a short back and U-shaped underline, and a small head with a medium single comb.

Orpingtons lay about 175 to 200^[8]: 158 medium to large^[5]: 115 light-brown eggs a year.

It was said that at one time Orpingtons were capable of laying as many as 340^[5]: 115 eggs per year. The decline in production was due to breeders selecting for looks over utility.^[13]: 98

• Buff cock
• White, barred and gold-laced hens
• Lavender cock
• Black bantam hen